my memories of eighty years-第60章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he horses urged on by a driver frantic for reward； and a guide who professionally and financially was doing the stunt of his life。 It was astounding how much ground was really covered in the city of antiquities and art by this devotion to speed and under competent guidance。
When I asked to see the pope； I was informed that his health was not good and audiences had been suspended。 I wrote a letter to the cardinal…secretary； enclosing Archbishop Corrigan's letter； and stated my anxiety to meet His Holiness and the limited time I had。 A few hours afterwards I received a letter from the cardinal stating that the Holy Father appreciated the circumstances； and would be very glad to welcome me in private audience at eleven o'clock the next morning。
When I arrived at the Vatican I was received as a distinguished visitor。 The papal guards were turned out； and I was finally ushered into the room of Cardinal Merry del Val。 He was a young man then and an accomplished diplomat； and most intimately informed on all questions of current interest。 Literature； music； drama； political conditions in Europe were among his accomplishments。 He said the usual formula when a stranger is presented to the pope is for the guest to kneel and kiss his ring。 The pope has decided that all this will be omitted in your case。 He will receive you exactly as an eminent foreigner calling by appointment upon the President of the United States。
When I was ushered into the presence of the pope he left his throne； came forward； grasped me cordially by the hand； and welcomed me in a very charming way。 He was not a well man； and his bloodless countenance was as white and pallid as his robes。 This was all relieved； however； by the brilliancy of his wonderful eyes。
After a few preliminary remarks he plunged into the questions in which he was deeply interested。 He feared the spread of communism and vividly described its efforts to destroy the church； ruin religion； extirpate faith； and predicted that if successful it would destroy civilization。
I told him that I was deeply interested in the encyclical he had recently issued to reconcile or make more harmonious the relations between capital and labor。 He commenced speaking upon that subject； and in a few minutes I saw that I was to be privileged to hear an address from one who as priest and bishop had been one of the most eloquent orators of the age。 In his excitement he leaned forward； grasping the arms of the throne； the color returned to his cheeks； his eyes flashed； his voice was vibrant； and I was the audience； the entranced audience of the best speech I ever heard upon the question of labor and capital。
I was fearful on account of his health； that the exertion might be too great； and so arose to leave。 He again said to me； and taking my hand： 〃I know all about you and am very grateful to you that in your official capacity as president of the New York Central Railroad you are treating so fairly the Catholics。 I know that among your employees twenty…eight thousand are of the Catholic faith； and not one of them has ever known any discrimination because of their belief； but all of them have equal opportunities with the others for the rewards of their profession and protection in their employment。〃
The next day he sent a special messenger for a renewal of the conversation； but unhappily I had left Rome the night before。
During my stay in Rome of four days I had visited most of its antiquities； its famous churches； and spent several hours in the Vatican gallery。 Our American minister； one of the most accomplished of our diplomats； Mr。 William Potter； had also given me a dinner； where I was privileged to meet many celebrities of the time。
Among English statesmen I found in Lord Salisbury an impressive figure。 In a long conversation I had with him at the Foreign Office he talked with great freedom on the relations between the United States and Great Britain。 He was exceedingly anxious that friendly conditions should continue and became most cordial。
The frequent disposition on the part of American politicians to issue a challenge or create eruptions disturbed him。 I think he was in doubt when President Cleveland made his peremptory demands on the Venezuela boundary question if the president recognized their serious importance； both for the present and the future。 He； however； reluctantly yielded to the arbitration； won a complete victory； and was satisfied that such irritating questions were mainly political and for election purposes； and had better be met in a conciliatory spirit。
I remember a garden…party at Hatfield House； the historical home of the Cecils； given in honor of King Victor Emmanuel III； who had recently come to the throne。 Lord Salisbury was of gigantic proportions physically； while the king was undersized。 The contrast between the two was very striking； especially when they were in animated conversationthe giant prime minister talking down to His Majesty； and he with animated gestures talking up to the premier。
It is not too great a stretch of imagination； when one knows how traditional interviews and conversations between European rulers affect their relations； present and future； to find in that entertainment and conference that the seed there was sown for the entrance of Italy； at one of the crises of the Great War； on the side of the Allies and against Germany； to whom she was bound by the Triple Alliance。
Mr。 Gladstone said to me at one time： 〃I have recently met a most interesting countryman of yours。 He is one of the best…informed and able men of any country whom I have had the pleasure of talking with for a long time； and he is in London now。 I wish you would tell me all about him。〃
Mr。 Gladstone could not recall his name。 As there were a number of American congressmen in London； I asked： 〃Was he a congressman？〃
〃No；〃 he answered； 〃he had a more important office。〃
I then remembered that DeWitt Clinton； when a United States senator； resigned to become mayor of the City of New York。 On that inspiration I asked： 〃Mayor of the City of New York？〃
〃Yes； that is it；〃 Mr。 Gladstone answered。
I then told him that it was Abram S。 Hewitt； and gave him a description of Mr。 Hewitt's career。 Mr。 Gladstone was most enthusiastic about him。
It was my fortune to know Mr。 Hewitt very well for many years。 He richly merited Mr。 Gladstone's encomium。 He was one of the most versatile and able Americans in public or private life during his time。 His father was an English tenant…farmer who moved with his family to the United States。 Mr。 Hewitt received a liberal education and became a great success both in business and public life。 He was much more than a business man； mayor of New York； or a congressmanhe was public…spirited and a wise reformer。
Mr。 Hewitt told me two interesting incidents in his career。 When he visited England he was received with many and flattering attentions。 Among his invitations was a week…end to the home of the nobleman upon whose estates his father had been a tenant…farmer。 When Mr。 Hewitt told the nobleman； who was entertaining him as a distinguished American； about his father's former relations as one of his tenants； the nobleman said： 〃Your father made a great mistake in giving up his farm and emigrating to the United States。 He should have remained here。〃
Mr。 Hewitt said： 〃But； my lord； so far as I am concerned I do not think so。〃
〃Why？〃 asked his lordship。
〃Because；〃 answered Mr。 Hewitt； 〃then I could never have been a guest on equal terms in your house。〃
Mr。 Hewitt was one of the foremost iron founders and steel manufacturers of the country。 At the time of our Civil War our government was very short of guns； and we were unable to manufacture them because we did not know the secret of gun…metal。
The government sent Mr。 Hewitt abroad to purchase guns。 The English gunmakers at once saw the trouble he was in and took advantage of it。 They demanded prices several times greater than they were asking from other customers； and refused to give him any information about the manufacture of gun…metal。
After he had made the contract； with all its exorbitant conditions； he went to his hotel
